Rain Gauge
Description
<b>For a more detailed step-by-step description have a look at my page on [PrusaPrinters.org](https://www.prusaprinters.org/prints/60395-rain-gauge-using-advanced-techniques-and-pvb).</b> This is a rather complex design, making extensive use of color changes during print. You will need the follwing prints: - 1pc "cup" clear transparent. Use the spiral vase mode (0.15mm layer height?). I was a bit worried about it coming loose from the print bed, but did not have any problems at all. The resulting cup might be slightly warped to the outside which does not matter in the end. - 1pc "bottom ring" clear transparent 0.15mm layer height. - 1pc "bottom connector" blue translucent 0.25mm layer height - 1pc "top ring lower" clear transparent 0.15mm layer height. - 1pc "top ring upper" blue translucent 0.3mm layer height. - 2pcs "top scala connector" 0.15mm. I printed mine using black filament for the first 20 layers and clear transparent for the others (look at the screenshot). - 2pcs "scala" 0.15mm layer height. Use black filament and swap to and from yellow for all layers containing the numbers infill. - 2pcs "decoration scala" 0.15mm layer height. Use black filament in general. Print the tick line layers in yellow and the rain drop layers in blue translucent (have a look at the screenshot from the slicer). You will need the following material to complete the construction. Choose V2A or other kind of stainless steel for the screws. Also refer to the photos for how to connect the parts: - 4pcs 2.2mm x 4.5mm screws for connecting the four scala parts to the "scala connectors" - 4pcs M3 x 4mm screws to mount the scalas to the "bottom ring" - 2pcs M4 x 10mm screws to mount the "bottom ring" to the "bottom connector" - 6pcs 2.2mm x 16mm screws for mounting the "top scala connector" right though the "top ring lower" to the "top ring upper" - A 12mm aluminum tube to put the rain gauge onto <b>Update 21 March 2021:<b> Instead of using PETG for the cup, I reprinted this part using Prusament PVB natural. After printing I have used IPA for smoothing the part. By applying IPA inside and outside with a brush multiple times (with longer pauses to let it dry) the part becomes transparent - almost like glass. Let the part dry for another week or so. I noticed that even when drying the cup for quite a long time, the PVB material still becomes milky white when in contact to rain water for some hours. This effect seems to be reversible - at least my cup became clear some hours after removing the water. In fact this effect is really useful when using the material for this rain gauge: You can clearly see what part of the water has been in the cup for a longer time. So you can easily see how much water has been added by today's rain. For printing PVB in spiral vase mode I also did try Prusa's new 0.8mm nozzle, printing in 0.3mm layer height . By performing some more tests, I found out that you can achieve almost the same result by printing with a standard 0.4mm Nozzle in 0.2mm layer height, by using an extrusion multiplier of 1.3. <b> Happy printing! - And then please post a Make! Thank you very much! </b>
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